[SusieB]

Anyone grown them or tasted them?  Worth growing?

[Featherstone]

Although the trees will happily grow they are unlikely to fruit in the UK.

[FN]

I have a tree in a very large pot. Had it for 10 years. 1 - 2 dozen fruit each year. They have always ripened even in a dodgy summer. I'm in south west England.

[SusieB]

Thanks both. How do they taste FN.  Good? or different?

[Swing Swang]

Thanks both. How do they taste FN.  Good? or different?

I love loquats - they were the taste of my childhood and I used to look forward to picking the fruit from my grandmother's tree (not in the UK) - sort of an apricot texture with a more acidic taste and great big shiny brown seeds - in fairness it's a rather nice fresh fruit to have at a time of year when others are unavailable, rather than a 'great fruit', but it's one I look forward to. They are one of the first trees to fruit in late winter/early spring as they flower late on in the year - this means that the fruit will not set in the UK unless you have an orangery (or similar) to bring them into unless you are very lucky.

Te tree does grow well in the UK and the leaves alone make it worthy of a place in the garden - I used to run a passion fruit through mine to give flowers and fruit.

Philip

[Swing Swang]

I have a tree in a very large pot. Had it for 10 years. 1 - 2 dozen fruit each year. They have always ripened even in a dodgy summer. I'm in south west England.

FN - as we are moving to the west country later in the year I'm hoping that I will be able to emulate your success - Philip

[FN]

They taste great - not as sweet as the one you occasionally get in the shops though. I also find the skins are much thicker so definitely need peeling. I love them because they're a taste of my childhood - my grandma had a tree in her garden in Tel Aviv.
I have realised I forgot to say that I grow them against a south facing wall and cover with fleece on cold nights.
Good luck
Fiona